Supplementary support for mattresses



1952 WEINER SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPORT FOR MATTRESSES Filed May 8, 1947 2 SHEETS -SHEET 1 INVENTOR lee We 'zzer.

Nov. 4, 1952 n. WEINER SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPORT FOR MATTRESSES 2 SHEETS-Sl-IEET 2 Filed May 8, 194'? INVENTOR Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNl'lED STAT-ES. PATENT: orrrc MATTRESSES Lee Weiner Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 8, 1947, Serial No. 7461787 7 This invention relates to supplementary supports for use between bed spring and mattress, to avoid undue sagging under heavier parts of the body.

proved type of supplementary support by which the flexing of the mattress under different parts of the body is resiliently opposed transversely of the bed but not longitudinally.

An important object of the invention is to provide a supplementary support which is freely flexible in a longitudinal direction but is transversely resilient, so as to gently distribute the weight of the body transversely of the bed spring.

The general effect of this operation is to somewhat reduce the amplitude or depth of the mattress depressions under different parts of the body, while extending such depressions in a transverse direction, so that the sleeper rests in a more natural position and may roll or turn from side to side with considerably less effort.

The invention .willbe clearl understood from a few examples shown. in the accompanying drawing. In said drawing- Figure-1 is a plan view, with parts broken away, showing ,a single-width ..bed with the supplementary support disposed without tension between a conventional box spring and mattress.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation of the same, on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse, sectional elevation of the same on the line 33 of Fi ure 2.

Figures 4 and 4 are detail plan views of a connecting strap passing through two forms of openended slots in the end portions of the resilient strips.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the construction illustrated in Figure 4.

' series.

Figure 7 is a plan view and Figure 8 a transverse section on the line B8 of Figure 7 showing the use of internal, longitudinally-convergent vertical slots through which the connecting straps are threaded transversely of the strip in z1gzagmanner.-

. '2 Claims. (01. 5-236) 2 Q Figure 9 is a plan view and Figure 10 a transverse, sectional elevation .on the line Ill-J0 of Figure 9 showing the use of open-ended, side-byside, longitudinal slots inclined laterally toward each other with the connecting strap passing through them in zigzag manner.

Figure 11 is a plan view and Figure 12 a transverse, sectional elevation on the line lZ-l2 of Figure 11 showing the use of a pair of internal, parallel, vertical, longitudinal slots with the connecting strap passing through them in zigzag manner.

Figure 13 is a plan view and Figure 14 a transverse, sectional elevation on the line I l-44 of Figure 13 showing the use of a pair of internal. horizontal slots entering the two narrower edges of the strip on the same plane and communicating in the upper surface of the strip over a strapdefiecting beading. i

Figure 15 is a plan view and Figure 16 anedge elevation showing the use of a single, openended horivontal slot extending straight through the end portion of the strip, from one of its edges to the other, with a connecting. strap therein,

mattress 221 and l Figure 17 is a plan view and Figure 18 a transverse. vertical section on the line I8-|8of Figure 1'? illustrating the use of countersunk washers or grommets for fixing the connecting strap in the horizontally-slotted end portion. ofthe strip.

Bv reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, themethod of employing the' supplementary support will be apparent. In these. figures, the bed frame. is generally indicated at 20; the box spring at 2|, and the mattress at'22.. The box spring is shown as resting on the slats 23! The supplementary sup ort is shown between the bed spring 2| and The supplementary support comprises a system of resilient strips 24 disposed in generally parallel relation to each other and connected together'by flexible straps 25 to provide a unitary structurewhich is transversely resilient but longitudi'nallyflexible with no tension. The resilient-strips 24 are advantageously made of wood of essentially rectangular section, and

may be graduated in thickness to provide the proper degree of resilience. The strength or stifiness may vary between the different strips according to the weight to be supported. The connecting straps 25 are preferably of strong though flexible textile fabric, such as for example upholstery webbing. The connection of the strips 24 by the straps 25 may be effected in any suitable manner, but is preferably made adjustable by threading 'the'straps' through slots in the end portions of the strips. This may be effected in many ways. Several forms will be hereinafter shown by way of example. It is to be understood that the relation of the box spring to the supplementary support is preferably such that each of the resilient strips will be supported more or less uniformly throughout its length.

Figure 2 in particular represents the typical curvature of the human back with the corresponding depression of the mattress under the weight of different portions of the body, which the supplementary support is intended to assure.

The resilient strips are arranged in substantially parallel relation to each other and preferably somewhat spaced apart. The distance of spacing will materially affect the firmness of support, and for this reason it is preferred to have this spacing adjustable. This spacing may vary at different parts of the device.

In Figures 4 and 5, the end portion of the resilient strip is provided with a pair of openended longitudinal slots 26 which are inclined toward each other laterally and converge inwardly from the end of the strip. The connecting strap 2'! is threaded in zigzag manner through the pair of slots 26 and successively from one strip to the next. The slots here shown being open-ended, permit a loop of the strap 2! to be introduced into or removed from the slots in each strip without disturbing its position in the slots of the other strips. For adjusting the spacing of each strip from the adjacent strips, the connecting strap may readily be loosened or removed to permit shifting the strip to a proper position of adjustment and then tightenedto maintain the strip in such position.

In Figures '7 and 8, the end portion of the strip is provided with a pair of internal, side-by-side vertical slots 28 which extend longitudinally of the strip from its under surface to its upper surface and which converge toward the outer end. The connecting strap 29, in this example, has to be threaded in zigzag manner through the consecutive slots 28 .in the successive strips, because the slots are not open-ended as in the example shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Another form of open-ended slot construction is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. Here the strip is provided with a pair of open-ended slots 30 which extend parallel "to the axis of the strip but are inclined toward each other laterally and come together in an opening 3| in the top surface. A loop of the connecting strap 32 .is transversely inserted into the slot .30 at the open ends thereof, and while the strap is still loose, the strip is adjusted for spacing and the strap then tightened so that the strip will remain in properly adjusted relation to an adjoining strip. The strap 32 remains below the top surface of the strip in the opening 3|.

Figures 11 and 12 represent a modification of the construction shown in Figures 7 and 8. Here the internal vertical slots 33 extend parallel to the main axis of the strip. In other respects, the positioning of the connecting strap 34 and the adjustment of the strip are the same as described with reference to Figures 7 and 8.

In Figures 13 and 14, the end portions of the strip are provided with two horizontally-disposed internal slots 35 which enter the strip in its narrower edges and lead to a pair of upper surface recesses 36 through which the connecting stra 3'! passes on its way from one slot to the other. In its passage from one slot to the other, the strap 31 is deflected out of its horizontal plane by passing over a beading-38. This deflection of the strap prevents accidental displacement of the strip with respect to adjacent strips after the strap is tightened. By loosening the strap, the adjustment of the strip is easily accomplished.

The employment of a simple horizontal openended slot is illustrated in Figures 15 and 16. Here the horizontal slot 39 extends across the end portion of the strip from one of its narrow edges to the other and receives the connecting strap 40. In this particular construction, it is particularly important that the fit be snug, to avoid accidental displacement.

To positively avoid accidental displacement of the strip and strap in a simple open-ended horizontal slot construction, a locking device such as shown .in Figures 17 and 18 may be employed. Thus the connecting strap 4| passing through the horizontal slot 42 is pierced by a binding screw 43 which passes through the grommets 44 and 45 countersunk into the upper and lower faces of the strip. To adjust the strips, the screw 43 is removed and reinserted through the strap 4| in the new position.

The supplementary support structure, according to my invention, is adaptable to various dimensions and proportions, either for single bed or for double bed. Preferably where a doublew dth structure is involved, I employ two laterallv adjacent systems of resilient strips, joined together, as shown in Figure 6, so that each system of strips acts to a considerable extent independently of the other, but yet is connected thereto. Here the resilient strips 5!! are arranged in two parallel systems with individual outer straps 5!, 52 and a common inner strap 53. These outer and inner straps may be connected in any suitable manner to the respective ends of the resilient strips, which latter overlap each other at their inner ends, those of one system alternating with those of the other. The slotted end portions may, for example, employ the form of open-ended slots illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, or they may have inwardly convergent open-ended slots 54 which open into the narrow edges of the strip and are inclined transversely toward each other, as clearly shown in Figure 4 This latter construction is particularly desirable for the inner ends of the strips so as to enhance the resistance to the separation of the two systems and at the same time increase the supporting area along the junction line of the two systems.

The strap shown in Figures 4 and 4 illustrates the use of orientation lines or marks 21 to assist in judging the spacing between strips.

I claim:

1. A transversely resilient, supplementary support for use with a bedspring and a mattress comprising a system of resilient strips disposed in generally parallel relation to each other, each of said strips having in each of its end portions a convergent pair of open-ended side-by-side slots extending longitudinally of the strip from its under surface to its upper surface, and flexible straps extending in zigzag manner through the consecutive slots of the respective end portions of said strips to secure them together.

2. A transversely resilient, supplementary support comprising a system of resilient strips disposed in generally parallel relation to each other, each of said strips having .in each of its end portions a convergent pair of open-ended, side-byside slots extending longitudinally .of the strip from its under surface to its upper surface, and flexible straps extending in zigzag manner through the consecutive slots of the respective end portions of said strips to secure them together Number 945,510 IEE INER 2,174,711

WE 5 2,311,716 2,430,612 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Fullam Jan. 4, 1910 Walker Oct. 3, 1939 Walker Feb. 23, 1943 Heuer Nov. 11, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Dec. 28, 1936 

